Probable Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

Background: To date, although neonatal infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronovirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described, none of these have been proven to be the result of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We describe the probable vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a neonate born to a mother with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Results: Following cesarean section, the neonate was kept in strict isolation. Molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2 on respiratory samples, blood, and meconium were initially negative, but positive on a nasopharyngeal aspirate on the third day of life. On day 5, the neonate developed fever and coryza, which spontaneously resolved. Viral genomic analysis from the mother and neonate showed identical sequences except for 1 nucleotide. Conclusion: This report has important implications for infection control and clinical management of pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborns.

Synthesis and systematic review of reported neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections

“…Clinical features of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections. Ninetyseven neonates presented with clinical features related to COVID-19: 18,20,[26][27][28]30,32,[34][35][36][38][39][40][41]44,45,[50][51][52]55,56,58,60,61,[65][66][67][70][71][72]77,78,80,81,[85][86][87][88]90 their distribution is shown in Table 3. Respiratory manifestations mainly consisted of signs of respiratory failure, such as tachypnoea, intercostal retractions, and rhinitis; neonatal ARDS was not diagnosed in any case.…”

“…Ninety-seven neonates presented with clinical features related to COVID-19: 18 , 20 , 26 – 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 – 36 , 38 – 41 , 44 , 45 , 50 – 52 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 65 – 67 , 70 – 72 , 77 , 78 , 80 , 81 , 85 – 88 , 90 their distribution is shown in Table 3 . Respiratory manifestations mainly consisted of signs of respiratory failure, such as tachypnoea, intercostal retractions, and rhinitis; neonatal ARDS was not diagnosed in any case.…”

“…Our findings confirm that SARS-CoV-2 can infect neonates and that the majority of these infections occur 17 Case report France a PR 6 Good Aghdam 18 Case report Iran PR 4 Intermediate Alonso Diaz 19 Case report Spain PR 5 Intermediate Alzamora 20 Case report Peru PR 3 Intermediate Ayed 21 Case series Kuwait Preprint 1 Low Banerjee 22 Case series India PR 2 Low Barbero 23 Retrospective cohort study Spain PR n.a. Intermediate Buonsenso 24 Case series Italy PR 4 Intermediate Carosso 25 Case report Italy PR 4 Intermediate Chacon-Aguilar 26 Case report Spain PR 5 Intermediate Coronado Munoz 27 Case report USA PR 4 Intermediate Demirjian 28 Case report UK PR 4 Intermediate Dong 29 Case report China PR 6 Good Dumpa 30 Case report USA PR 6 Good Eghbalian 31 Case report Iran PR 4 Intermediate Feng 32 Case series China PR 3 Intermediate Fenizia 33 Case series Italy PP 5 Intermediate Ferrazzi 34 Case series Italy PR 1 Low Garazzino 35 Case series Italy PR 2 Low Gonzales Brabin 36 Case report Spain PR 3 Intermediate Gordon 37 Case report UK PR 2 Low Gregorio-Hernandez 38 Case series Spain PR 5 Intermediate Groß 39 Case series Germany PR 5 Intermediate Han 40 Case report South Korea PR 6 Good Hantoushzadeh 41 Case series Iran PR 6 Good Hasan 42 Case series Bangladesh Preprint 6 Good Hu 43 Case series China PR 6 Good Ibarra Rios 44 Case report Mexico Preprint 5 Intermediate Kanburoglu 45 Case report Turkey PR 1 Low Kayem 46 Case series France PR 1 Low Kirtsman 47 Case report Canada PR 6 Good Knight 48 Retrospective cohort study UK PR n.a. n.a.…”

First Trimester Pregnancy Outcomes in a Large ART Center From the Lombardy County (Italy) During the Peak COVID-19 Pandemic.

“…It is important to study other possible long-term effects on male and female gametes , speci cally whether there might be shedding of virus in some individuals that might even affect the safety and storage of gametes 18 . Evidence continues to emerge regarding effects of the novel coronavirus in pregnancy and some initial reports suggest that complications, particularly after delivery, may be increased 9 , even if outcomes for infants are largely reassuring when considering potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection acquired before or during birth 5,25 . Further studies are necessary, and additional data regarding outcomes of early pregnancies in demonstrated infected pregnant women should be collected 26 .…”

Neonatal COVID-19 in French Guiana, a Case-Control study.

“…5, Cases of suspected congenital SARS-CoV-2 infection have also been reported. [13][14][15] These authors recommended blood, nasopharyngeal, placenta and umbilical cord testing as soon as possible after birth, after a thorough cleansing of the newborn. This would help to establish the overall risk of COVID-19 infection due to in-utero or perinatal exposure.…”